The Life of John Milton Volume 5 of 7 16541660 by David Masson

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Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660, by David

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Title: The Life of John Milton, Volume 5 (of 7), 1654-1660

Author: David Masson

Release Date: December 19, 2004 [eBook #14380]

Language: English

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***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE LIFE OF JOHN MILTON, VOLUME 5 (OF 7),
1654-1660***

E-text prepared by Charles Aldarondo, Keron Vergon, Leonard Johnson,

and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team

THE LIFE

OF

JOHN MILTON:

NARRATED IN CONNEXION WITH

THE POLITICAL, ECCLESIASTICAL, AND LITERARY

HISTORY OF HIS TIME.

BY

DAVID MASSON, M.A., LL.D.,

PROFESSOR OF RHETORIC AND ENGLISH LITERATURE

IN THE UNIVERSITY OF EDINBURGH.

VOL. V.

1654-1660.

London:

MacMillan and Co.

1877.

CONTENTS.

BOOK I.

SEPTEMBER 1654-JUNE 1657.

HISTORY:—OLIVER'S FIRST PROTECTORATE CONTINUED.

BIOGRAPHY:—MILTON'S LIFE AND SECRETARYSHIP THROUGH
THE FIRST PROTECTORATE

CONTINUED.

CHAP. I. SECTION I. Oliver and his First Parliament: Sept. 3, 1654-Jan. 22, 1654-5.—Meeting of the First
Parliament of the Protectorate: Its Composition: Anti-Oliverians numerous in it: Their Four Days' Debate in challenge of
Cromwell's Powers: Debate stopped by Cromwell: His Speech in the Painted Chamber: Secession of some from the
Parliament: Acquiescence of the rest by Adoption of The Recognition: Spirit and Proceedings of the Parliament still
mainly Anti-Oliverian: Their Four Months' Work in Revision of the Protectoral Constitution: Chief Debates in those
Four Months: Question of the Protector's Negatives: Other Incidental Work of the Parliament: Question of Religious
Toleration and of the Suppression of Heresies and Blasphemies: Committee and Sub-Committee on this Subject:
Baxter's Participation: Tendency to a Limited Toleration only, and Vote against the Protector's Prerogative of more:
Case of John Biddle, the Socinian.—Insufficiency now of our former Synopsis of English Sects and Heresies: New
Sects and Denominations: The Fifth-Monarchy Men: The Ranters: The Muggletonians and other Stray Fanatics:
Bochmenists and other Mystics: The Quakers or Friends: Account of George Fox, and Sketch of the History of the
Quakers to the year 1654.—Policy of the Parliament with their Bill for a New Constitution: Parliament outwitted by
Cromwell and dissolved: No Result.

CHAP. I. SECTION II. Between the Parliaments, or the Time of Arbitrariness: Jan. 22, 1654-55—Sept. 17, 1656.—
Avowed "Arbitrariness" of this Stage of the Protectorate, and Reasons for it.—First Meeting of Cromwell and his
Council after the Dissolution: Major-General Overton in Custody: Other Arrests: Suppression of a wide Republican
Conspiracy and of Royalist Risings in Yorkshire and the West: Revenue Ordinance and Mr. Cony's Opposition at Law:
Deference of Foreign Governments: Blake in the Mediterranean: Massacre of the Piedmontese Protestants: Details of
the Story and of Cromwell's Proceedings in consequence: Penn in the Spanish West Indies: His Repulse from
Hispaniola and Landing in Jamaica: Declaration of War with Spain and Alliance with France: Scheme of the
Government of England by Major-Generals: List of them and Summary of their Police-System: Decimation Tax on the
Royalists, and other Measures in terrorem: Consolidation of the London Newspaper Press: Proceedings of the
Commission of Ejectors and of the Commission of Triers: View of Cromwell's Established Church of England, with
Enumeration of its various Components: Extent of Toleration outside the Established Church: The Protector's Treatment
of the Roman Catholics, the Episcopalians, the Anti-Trinitarians, the Quakers, and the Jews: State of the English
Universities and Schools under the Protectorate: Cromwell's Patronage of Learning: List of English Men of Letters alive
in 1656, and Account of their Diverse Relations to Cromwell: Poetical Panegyrics on him and his Protectorate.—New
Arrangements for the Government of Scotland: Lord Broghill's Presidency there for Cromwell: General State of the
Country: Continued Struggle between the Resolutioners and the Protesters for Kirk-Supremacy: Independency and
Quakerism in Scotland: More Extreme Anomalies there: Story of "Jock of Broad Scotland": Brisk Intercourse between
Scotland and London: Mission of Mr. James Sharp.—Ireland from 1654 to 1656.—Glimpse of the Colonies.

CHAP. I. SECTION III. Oliver and the First Session of his Second Parliament: Sept. 17, 1656-June 26, 1657.—
Second Parliament of the Protectorate called: Vane's Healing Question and another Anti-Oliverian Pamphlet:
Precautions and Arrests: Meeting of the Parliament: Its Composition: Summary of Cromwell's Opening Speech:
Exclusion of Ninety-three Anti-Oliverian Members: Decidedly Oliverian Temper of the rest: Question of the Excluded
Members: Their Protest: Summary of the Proceedings of the Parliament for Five Months (Sept. 1656-Feb. 1656-7):
Administration of Cromwell and his Council during those Months: Approaches to Disagreement between Cromwell and
the Parliament in the Case of James Nayler and on the Question of Continuation of the Militia by Major-Generals: No
Rupture.—The Soxby-Sindercombe Plot.—Sir Christopher Pack's Motion for a New Constitution (Feb. 23, 1656-7):
Its Issue in the Petition and Advice and Offer of the Crown to Cromwell: Division of Public Opinion on the Kingship
Question: Opposition among the Army Officers: Cromwell's Neutral Attitude: His Reception of the Offer: His long
Hesitations and several Speeches over the Affair: His Final Refusal (May 8, 1657): Ludlow's Story of the Cause.—
Harrison and the Fifth Monarchy Men: Venner's Outbreak at Mile-End-Green.—Proposed New Constitution of the
Petition and Advice retained in the form of a Continued Protectorate: Supplements to the Petition and Advice: Bills
assented to by the Protector, June 9: Votes for the Spanish War.—Treaty Offensive and Defensive with France against
Spain: Dispatch of English Auxiliary Army, under Reynolds, for Service in Flanders: Blake's Action in Santa Cruz Bay.
—"Killing no Murder": Additional and Explanatory Petition and Advice: Abstract of the Articles of the New
Constitution as arranged by the two Documents: Cromwell's completed Assent to the New Constitution, and his Assent
to other Bills. June 26, 1657: Inauguration of the Second Protectorate that day: Close of the First Session of the
Second Parliament.

CHAP. II. Milton's Life and Secretaryship through the First Protectorate continued: September 1654-June 1657.—

SECTION I.: From September 1654 to January 1654-5, or Through Oliver's First Parliament.—Ulac's Hague Edition
of Milton's Defensio Secunda, with the Fides Publica of Morus annexed: Preface by Dr. Crantzius to the Reprint:
Ulac's own Preface of Self-Defence: Account of Morus's Fides Publica, with Extracts: His Citation of Testimonies to
his Character: Testimony of Diodati of Geneva: Abrupt Ending of the Book at this Point, with Ulac's Explanation of the
Cause.—Particulars of the Arrest and Imprisonment of Milton's Friend Overton.—Three more Latin State-Letters by
Milton for Oliver (Nos. XLIX.-LI.): No State-Letters by Milton for the next Three Months: Milton then busy on a
Reply to the Fides Publica of Morus.

CHAP. II. SECTION II.: From January 1654-5 to September 1656, or Through the Period of Arbitrariness.—Letter
to Milton from Leo de Aitzema: Milton's Reply: Letter to Ezekiel Spanheim at Geneva: Milton's Genovese Recollections
and Acquaintances: Two more of Milton's Latin State-Letters (Nos. LII., LIII.): Small Amount of Milton's Despatch-
Writing for Cromwell hitherto.—Reduction of Official Salaries, and Proposal to Reduce Milton's to £150 a Year:
Actual Commutation of his £288 a Year at Pleasure into £200 for Life: Orders of the Protector and Council relating to
the Piedmontese Massacre, May 1655: Sudden Demand on Milton's Pen in that Business: His Letter of Remonstrance
from the Protector to the Duke of Savoy, with Ten other Letters to Foreign States and Princes on the same Subject
(Nos. LIV.-LXIV.): His Sonnet on the Subject.—Publication of the Supplementum to More's Fides Publica:
Account of the Supplementum, with Extracts: Milton's Answer to the Fides Publica and the Supplementum together
in his Pro Se Defensio, Aug. 1655: Account of that Book, with Specimens: Milton's Disbelief in Morus's Denials of the
Authorship of the Regii Sanguinis Clamor: His Reasons, and his Reassertions of the Charge in a Modified Form: His
Notices of Dr. Crantzius and Ulac: His Renewed Onslaughts on Morus: His Repetition of the Bontia Accusation and
others: His Examination of Morus's Printed Testimonials: Ferocity of the Book to the last: Its Effects on Morus.—
Question of the Real Authorship of the Regii Sanguinis Clamor and of the Amount of Morus's Concern in it: The Du
Moulin Family: Dr. Peter Du Moulin the Younger the Real Author of the Regii Sanguinis Clamor, but Morus the
Active Editor and the Writer of the Dedicatory Epistle: Du Moulin's own Account of the whole Affair: His close
Contact with Milton all the while, and Dread of being found out.—Calm in Milton's Life after the Cessation of the
Morus-Salmasius Controversy: Home-Life in Petty France: Dabblings of the Two Nephews in Literature: John Phillips's
Satyr against Hypocrites: Frequent Visitors at Petty France: Marvell, Needham, Cyriack Skinner, &c.: The
Viscountess Ranelagh, Mr. Richard Jones, and the Boyle Connexion: Dr. Peter Du Moulin in that Connexion: Milton's
Private Sonnet on his Blindness, his Two Sonnets to Cyriack Skinner, and his Sonnet to young Lawrence: Explanation
of these Four Sonnets.—Scriptum Domini Protectoris contra Hispanos: Thirteen more Latin State-Letters of Milton
for the Protector (Nos. LXV.-LXXVII.), with Special Account of Count Bundt and the Swedish Embassy in London:
Count Bundt and Mr. Milton.—Increase of Light Literature in London: Erotic Publications: John Phillips in Trouble for
such: Edward Phillips's London Edition of the Poems of Drummond of Hawthornden: Milton's Cognisance of the same.
—Henry Oldenburg and Mr. Richard Jones at Oxford: Letters of Milton to Jones and Oldenburg.—Thirteen more
State-Letters of the Milton Series (Nos. LXXVIII.-XC.): Importance of some of them.

CHAP. II. SECTION III.: From September 1656 to June 1657, or Through the First Session of Oliver's Second
Parliament.—Another Letter from Milton to Mr. Richard Jones: Departure of Lady Ranelagh for Ireland: Letter from
Milton to Peter Heimbach: Milton's Second Marriage: His Second Wife, Katharine Woodcock: Letter to Emeric Bigot:
Milton's Library and the Byzantine Historians: M. Stoupe: Ten more State-Letters by Milton for the Protector (Nos.
XCI.-C.): Morland, Meadows, Durie, Lockhart, and other Diplomatists of the Protector, back in London: More
Embassies and Dispatches over Land and Sea: Milton Standing and Waiting: His Thoughts about the Protectorate
generally.

BOOK II.

JUNE 1657-SEPTEMBER 1658

HISTORY:—OLIVER'S SECOND PROTECTORATE.

BIOGRAPHY:—MILTON'S LIFE AND SECRETARYSHIP THROUGH THE SECOND PROTECTORATE.

CHAP. I. Oliver's Second Protectorate: June 26, 1657-Sept. 3, 1658.—Regal Forms and Ceremonial of the Second
Protectorate: The Protector's Family: The Privy Council: Retirement of Lambert: Death of Admiral Blake: The French
Alliance and Successes in Flanders: Siege and Capture of Mardike: Other Foreign Relations of the Protectorate:
Special Envoys to Denmark, Sweden, and the United Provinces: Aims of Cromwell's Diplomacy in Northern and
Eastern Europe: Progress of his English Church-Establishment: Controversy between John Goodwill and Marchamont
Needham: The Protector and the Quakers: Death of John Lilburne: Death of Sexby: Marriage of the Duke of
Buckingham to Mary Fairfax: Marriages of Cromwell's Two Youngest Daughters: Preparations for another Session of
the Parliament: Writs for the Other House: List of Cromwell's Peers.—Reassembling of the Parliament. Jan. 20, 1667-
8: Cromwell's Opening Speech, with the Supplement by Fiennes: Anti-Oliverian Spirit of the Commons: Their
Opposition to the Other House: Cromwell's Speech of Remonstrance: Perseverance of the Commons in their
Opposition: Cromwell's Last Speech and Dissolution of the Parliament, Feb. 4, 1657-8.—State of the Government
after the Dissolution: The Dangers, and Cromwell's Dealings with them: His Light Dealings with the Disaffected
Commonwealth's Men: Threatened Spanish Invasion from Flanders, and Ramifications of the Royalist Conspiracy at
Home: Arrests of Royalists, and Execution of Slingsby and Hewit: The Conspiracy crushed: Death of Robert Rich: The

Earl of Warwick's Letter to Cromwell, and his Death: More Successes in Flanders: Siege and Capture of Dunkirk:
Splendid Exchanges of Compliments between Cromwell and Louis XIV.: New Interference in behalf of the
Piedmontese Protestants, and Project of a Protestant Council De Propaganda Fide: Prospects of the Church
Establishment: Desire of the Independents for a Confession of Faith: Attendant Difficulties: Cromwell's Policy in the
Affairs of the Scottish Kirk: His Design for the Evangelization and Civilization of the Highlands: His Grants to the
Universities of Edinburgh and Glasgow: His Council in Scotland: Monk at Dalkeith: Cromwell's Intentions in the Cases
o f Biddle and James Nayler: Proposed New Act for Restriction of the Press: Firmness and Grandeur of the
Protectorate in July 1658: Cromwell's Baronetcies and Knighthoods: Willingness to call another Parliament: Death of
Lady Claypole: Cromwell's Illness and Last Days, with the Last Acts and Incidents of his Protectorship.

CHAP. II. Milton's Life and Secretaryship through the Second Protectorate. —Milton still in Office: Letter to Mr.
Henry de Brass, with Milton's Opinion of Sallust: Letters to Young Ranelagh and Henry Oldenburg at Saumur: Morus
in New Circumstances: Eleven more State-Letters of Milton for the Protector (Nos. CI.-CXI.): Andrew Marvell
brought in as Assistant Foreign Secretary at last (Sept. 1657): John Dryden now also in the Protector's Employment:
Birth of Milton's Daughter by his Second Wife: Six more State-Letters of Milton (Nos. CXII.-CXVII.): Another Letter
to Mr. Henry de Brass, and another to Peter Heimbach: Comment on the latter: Deaths of Milton's Second Wife and
her Child: His two Nephews, Edward and John Phillips, at this date: Milton's last Sixteen State-Letters for Oliver
Cromwell (Nos. CXVIII.-CXXXIII), including Two to Charles Gustavus of Sweden, Two on a New Alarm of a
Persecution of the Piedmontese Protestants, and Several to Louis XIV. and Cardinal Mazarin: Importance of this last
Group of the State-Letters, and Review of the whole Series of Milton's Performances for Cromwell: Last Diplomatic
Incidents of the Protectorate, and Andrew Marvell in connexion with them: Incidents of Milton's Literary Life in this
Period: Young Güntzer's Dissertatio and Young Kock's Phalæcians: Milton's Edition of Raleigh's Cabinet Council:
Resumption of the old Design of Paradise Lost and actual Commencement of the Poem: Change from the Dramatic
Form to the Epic: Sonnet in Memory of his Deceased Wife.

BOOK III.

SEPTEMBER 1658—MAY 1660.

HISTORY:—THE PROTECTORATE OF RICHARD CROMWELL, THE
ANARCHY, MONK'S MARCH AND

DICTATORSHIP, AND THE RESTORATION.

RICHARD'S PROTECTORATE: SEPT. 3, 1658—MAY 25, 1659.

THE ANARCHY:—

STAGE I.:—THE RESTORED RUMP: MAY 25, 1659—OCT. 13, 1659.

STAGE II.:—THE WALLINGFORD-HOUSE GOVERNMENT: OCT. 13, 1659—DEC. 26, 1659.

STAGE III.:—SECOND RESTORATION OF THE RUMP, WITH MONK'S
MARCH FROM SCOTLAND:

DEC. 26, 1659—FEB. 21, 1859-60.

MONK'S DICTATORSHIP, THE RESTORED LONG PARLIAMENT, AND THE RESTORATION.

BIOGRAPHY:—MILTON'S LIFE AND SECRETARYSHIP THROUGH
RICHARD'S PROTECTORATE, THE

ANARCHY, AND MONK'S DICTATORSHIP.

CHAP. I. FIRST SECTION. The Protectorate of Richard Cromwell: Sept. 3, 1858—May 25, 1659.—Proclamation
of Richard: Hearty Response from the Country and from Foreign Powers: Funeral of the late Protector: Resolution for a
New Parliament.—Difficulties in Prospect: List of the most Conspicuous Props and Assessors of the New Protectorate:
Monk's Advice to Richard: Union of the Cromwellians against Charles Stuart: Their Split among themselves into the
Court or Dynastic Party and the Army or Wallingford-House Party: Chiefs of the Two Parties: Richard's Preference for
the Court Party, and his Speech to the Army Officers: Backing of the Army Party towards Republicanism or Anti-
Oliverianism: Henry Cromwell's Letter of Rebuke to Fleetwood: Differences of the Two Parties as to Foreign Policy:
The French Alliance and the War with Spain: Relations to the King of Sweden.—Meeting of Richard's Parliament (Jan.
27, 1658-9): The Two Houses: Eminent Members of the Commons: Richard's Opening Speech: Thurloe the Leader for
Government in the Commons: Recognition of the Protectorship and of the Other House, and General Triumph of the
Government Party: Miscellaneous Proceedings of the Parliament.—Dissatisfaction of the Army Party: Their Closer
Connexion with the Republicans: New Convention of Officers at Wallingford-House: Desborough's Speech; The
Convention forbidden by the Parliament and dissolved by Richard: Whitehall surrounded by the Army, and Richard
compelled to dissolve the Parliament.—Responsible Position of Fleetwood, Desborough, Lambert, and the other Army
Chiefs: Bankrupt State of the Finances: Necessity for some kind of Parliament: Phrenzy for "The Good Old Cause" and
Demand for the Restoration of the Rump: Acquiescence of the Army Chiefs: Lenthall's Objections: First Fortnight of the
Restored Rump: Lingering of Richard in Whitehall: His Enforced Abdication.

CHAP. I. SECOND SECTION.
The Anarchy, Stage I.: or The Restored Rump: May 25, 1659-Oct. 13, 1659.—

Number of the Restored Rumpers and List of them: Council of State of the Restored Rump: Anomalous Character and
Position of the New Government: Momentary Chance of a Civil War between the Cromwellians and the Rumpers:
Chance averted by the Acquiescence of the Leading Cromwellians: Behaviour of Richard Cromwell, Monk, Henry
Cromwell, Lockhart, and Thurloe, individually: Baulked Cromwellianism becomes Potential Royalism: Energetic
Proceedings of the Restored Rump: Their Ecclesiastical Policy and their Foreign Policy: Treaty between France and
Spain: Lockhart at the Scene of the Negotiations as Ambassador for the Rump: Remodelling and Reofficering of the
Army, Navy, and Militia: Confederacy of Old and New Royalists for a Simultaneous Rising: Actual Rising under Sir
George Booth in Cheshire: Lambert sent to quell the Insurrection: Peculiar Intrigues round Monk at Dalkeith: Sir
George Booth's Insurrection crushed: Exultation of the Rump and Action taken against the Chief Insurgents and their
Associates: Question of the future Constitution of the Commonwealth: Chaos of Opinions and Proposals: James
Harrington and his Political Theories: The Harrington or Rota Club: Discontents in the Army: Petition, and Proposals of
the Officers of Lambert's Brigade: Severe Notice of the same by the Rump: Petition and Proposals of the General
Council of Officers: Resolute Answers of the Rump: Lambert, Desborough, and Seven other Officers, cashiered:
Lambert's Retaliation and Stoppage of the Parliament.

CHAP. I. SECOND SECTION (continued). The Anarchy, Stage II.: or The Wallingford-House Interregnum: Oct. 13,
1659-Dec. 26, 1659.—The Wallingford-House Government: Its Committee of Safety: Behaviour of Ludlow and
other Leading Republicans: Death of Bradshaw.—Army—Arrangements of the New Government: Fleetwood,
Lambert, and Desborough, the Military Chiefs: Declared Championship of the Rump by Monk in Scotland:
Negotiations opened with Monk, and Lambert sent north to oppose him: Monk's Mock Treaty with Lambert and the
Wallingford-House Government through Commissioners in London: His Preparations meanwhile in Scotland: His
Advance from Edinburgh to Berwick: Monk's Army and Lambert's.—Foreign Relations of the Wallingford-House
Government: Treaty between France and Spain: Lockhart: Charles II. at Fontarabia: Gradual Improvement of his
Chances in England.—Discussions of the Wallingford-House Government as to the future Constitution of the
Commonwealth: The Vane Party and the Whitlocke Party in these Discussions: Johnstone of Warriston, the
Harringtonians, and Ludlow: Attempted Conclusions.—Monk at Coldstream: Universal Whirl of Opinion in favour of
him and the Rump: Utter Discredit of the Wallingford-House Rule in London: Vacillation and Collapse of Fleetwood:
The Rump Restored a second time.

CHAP. I. SECOND SECTION (continued).
The Anarchy, Stage III.: or Second Restoration of the Rump, with

Monk's March from Scotland: Dec. 26, 1659-Feb. 21, 1659.—The Rump after its Second Restoration: New Council
of State: Penalties on Vane, Lambert, Desborough, and the other Chiefs of the Wallingford-House Interregnum: Case
of Ludlow: New Army Remodelling: Abatement of Republican Fervency among the Rumpers: Dispersion of Lambert's
Force in the North: Monk's March from Scotland: Stages and Incidents of the March: His Halt at St. Alban's and
Message thence to the Rump: His Nearer View of the Situation: His Entry into London, Feb. 3, 1659-60: His
Ambiguous Speech to the Rump, Feb. 6: His Popularity in London: Pamphlets and Letters during his March and on his
Arrival: Prynne's pamphlets on behalf of the Secluded Members: Tumult in the City: Tumult suppressed by Monk as
Servant of the Rump: His Popularity gone: Blunder retrieved by Monk's Reconciliation with the City and Declaration
against the Rump: Roasting of the Rump in London, Feb. 11, 1659-60: Monk Master of the City and of the Rump
too; Consultations with the Secluded Members: Bill of the Rump for Enlarging itself by New Elections; Bill set aside by
the Reseating of the Secluded Members: Reconstitution of the Long Parliament under Monk's Dictatorship.

CHAP. I. THIRD SECTION.
Monk's Dictatorship, the Restored Long Parliament, and the Drift to the Restoration:

Feb. 21, 1659-60—April 25, 1660.—The Restored Long Parliament: New Council of State: Active Men of the
Parliament: Prynne, Arthur Annesley, and William Morrice: Miscellaneous Proceedings of the Parliament: Release of old
Royalist Prisoners: Lambert committed to the Tower: Rewards and Honours for Monk: "Old George" in the City:
Revival of the Solemn League and Covenant, the Westminster Confession of Faith, and all the Apparatus of a Strict
Presbyterian Church-Establishment: Cautious Measures for a Political Settlement: The Real Question evaded and
handed over to another Parliament: Calling of the Convention Parliament and Arrangements for the Same: Difficulty
about a House of Lords: How obviated: Last Day of the Long Parliament, March 16, 1659-60: Scene in the House.—
Monk and the Council of State left in charge: Annesley the Managing Colleague of Monk: New Militia Act carried out:
Discontents among Monk's Officers and Soldiers: The Restoration of Charles still very dubious: Other Hopes and
Proposals for the moment: The Kingship privately offered to Monk by the Republicans: Offer declined: Bursting of the
Popular Torrent of Royalism at last, and Enthusiastic Demands for the Recall of Charles: Elections to the Convention
Parliament going on meanwhile: Haste of hundreds to be foremost in bidding Charles welcome: Admiral Montague and
his Fleet in the Thames: Direct Communications at last between Monk and Charles: Greenville the Go-between:
Removal of Charles and his Court from Brussels to Breda: Greenville sent back from Breda with a Commission for
Monk and Six other Documents.—Broken-spiritedness of the Republican Leaders, but formidable Residue of
Republicanism in the Army: Monk's Measures for Paralysing the same: Successful Device of Charges; Montague's Fleet
in Motion: Escape of Lambert from the Tower: His Rendezvous in Northamptonshire: Gathering of a Wreck of the
Republicans round him: Dick Ingoldsby sent to crush him: The Encounter near Daventry, April 22, 1660, and
Recapture of Lambert: Great Review of the London Militia, April 24, the day before the Meeting of the Convention
Parliament: Impatient longing for Charles: Monk still impenetrable, and the Documents from Breda reserved.

CHAP. II. FIRST SECTION.
Milton's Life and Secretaryship through Richard's Protectorate: Sept. 1658-May 1659.

—Milton and Marvell still in the Latin Secretaryship: Milton's first Five State-Letters for Richard (Nos. CXXXIII.-

CXXXVII.): New Edition of Milton's Defensio Prima: Remarkable Postscript to that Edition: Six more State-Letters
for Richard (Nos. CXXXVIII.-CXLIII.): Milton's
Relations to the Conflict of Parties round Richard and in Richard's

Parliament: His probable Career but for his Blindness: His continued Cromwellianism in Politics, but with stronger
private Reserves, especially on the Question of an Established Church: His Reputation that of a man of the Court-Party
among the Protectoratists: His Treatise of Civil Power in Ecclesiastical Causes: Account of the Treatise, with
Extracts: The Treatise more than a Plea for Religious Toleration: Church-Disestablishment the Fundamental Idea: The
Treatise addressed to Richard's Parliament, and chiefly to Vane and the Republicans there: No Effect from it: Milton's
Four last State-Letters for Richard (Nos. CXLIV.-CXLVII.): His Private Epistle to Jean Labadie, with Account of that
Person: Milton in the month between Richard's Dissolution of his Parliament and his formal Abdication: His Two State-
Letters for the Restored Rump (Nos. CXLVIII.-CXLIX.)

CHAP. II. SECOND SECTION.
Milton's Life and Secretaryship through the Anarchy: May 1659—Feb. 1659-60.

—First Stage of the Anarchy, or The Restored Rump (May—Oct. 1659):—Feelings and Position of Milton in the
new State of Things: His Satisfaction on the whole, and the Reasons for it: Letter of Moses Wall to Milton: Renewed
Agitation against Tithes and Church Establishment: Votes on that Subject in the Rump: Milton's Considerations
touching the Likeliest Means to remove Hirelings out of the Church: Account of the Pamphlet, with Extracts: Its
thorough-going Voluntaryism: Church-Disestablishment demanded absolutely, without Compensation for Vested
Interests: The Appeal fruitless, and the Subject ignored by the Rump: Dispersion of that Body by Lambert.—Second
Stage of the Anarchy, or The Wallingford-House Interruption (Oct.-Dec. 1659):—Milton's Thoughts on Lambert's
coup d'etat in his Letter to a Friend concerning the Ruptures of the Commonwealth: The Letter in the main against
Lambert and in Defence of the Rump: Its extraordinary practical Proposal of a Government by two Permanent Central
Bodies: The Proposal compared with the actual Administration by the Committee of Safety and the Wallingford-
House Council of Officers: Milton still nominally in the Latin Secretaryship: Money Warrant of Oct. 25, 1659, relating
to Milton, Marvell, and Eighty-four other Officials: No Trace of actual Service by Milton for the new Committee of
Safety: His Meditations through the Treaty between the Wallingford-House Government and Monk in Scotland: His
Meditations through the Committee-Discussions as to the future Model of Government; His Interest in this as now the
Paramount Question, and his Cognisance of the Models of Harrirgton and the Rota Club: Whitlocke's new Constitution
disappointing to Milton: Two more Letters to Oldenburg and Young Ranelagh: Gossip from abroad in connection with
these Letters: Morns again, and the Council of French Protestants at Londun: End of the Wallingford-House
Interruption.—Third Stage of ike Anarchy, or The Second Restoration of the Rump (Dec. 1659-Feb. 1659-60):—
Milton's Despondency at this Period: Abatement of his Faith in the Rump: His Thoughts during the March of Monk
from Scotland and after Monk's Arrival in London: His Study of Monk near at hand and Mistrust of the Omens: His
Interest for a while in the Question of the Preconstitution of the new Parliament promised by the Rump: His Anxiety that
it should be a Republican Parliament by mere Self-enlargement of the Rump: His Preparation of a new Republican
Pamphlet: The Publication postponed by Monk's sudden Defection from the Rump, the Roasting of the Rump in the
City, and the Restoration of the Secluded Members to their places in the Parliament: Milton's Despondency complete.

CHAP. II. THIRD SECTION.
Milton through Monk's Dictatorship: Feb. 1659-60—May 1660.—First Edition of

Milton's Ready and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth: Account of the Pamphlet, with Extracts:
Vehement Republicanism of the Pamphlet, with its Prophetic Warnings: Peculiar Central Idea of the Pamphlet, viz. the
Project of a Grand Council or Parliament to sit in Perpetuity, with a Council of State for its Executive: Passages
expounding this Idea: Additional Suggestion of Local and County Councils or Committees: Daring Peroration of the
Pamphlet: Milton's Recapitulation of the Substance of it in a short Private Letter to Monk entitled Present Means and
Brief Delineation of a Free Commonwealth: Wide Circulation of Milton's Pamphlet: The Response by Monk and the
Parliament of the Secluded Members in their Proceedings of the next fortnight: Dissolution of the Parliament after
Arrangements for its Successor: Royalist Squib predicting Milton's speedy Acquaintance with the Hangman at Tyburn:
Another Squib against Milton, called The Censure of the Rota upon Mr. Milton's Book: Specimens of this Burlesque:
Republican Appeal to Monk, called Plain English: Reply to the same, with another attack on Milton: Popular Torrent
of Royalism during the forty days of Interval between the Parliament of the Secluded Members and the Convention
Parliament (March 16, 1659-60—April 25, 1660): Caution of Monk and the Council of State: Dr. Matthew Griffith
and his Royalist Sermon, The Fear of God and the King: Griffith imprisoned for his Sermon, but forward Republicans
checked or punished at the same time: Needham discharged from his Editorship and Milton from his Secretaryship:
Resoluteness of Milton in his Republicanism: His Brief Notes on Dr. Griffith's Sermon: Second Edition of his Ready
and Easy Way to Establish a Free Commonwealth: Remarkable Additions and Enlargements in this Edition:
Specimens of these: Milton and Lambert the last Republicans in the field: Roger L'Estrange's Pamphlet against Milton,
called No Blind Guides: Larger Attack on Milton by G. S., called The Dignity of Kingship Asserted: Quotations from
that Book; Meeting of the Convention Parliament, April 25, 1660: Delivery by Greenville of the Six Royal Letters from
Breda, April 28-May 1, and Votes of both Houses for the Recall of Charles: Incidents of the following Week: Mad
impatience over the Three Kingdoms for the King's Return: He and his Court at the Hague, preparing for the Voyage
home: Panic among the surviving Regicides and other prominent Republicans: Flight of Needham to Holland and
Absconding of Milton from his house in Petty France: Last Sight of Milton in that house.

BOOK I.

SEPTEMBER 1654—JUNE 1657.

HISTORY:—OLIVER'S FIRST PROTECTORATE CONTINUED.

BIOGRAPHY:—MILTON'S LIFE AND SECRETARYSHIP THROUGH THE FIRST PROTECTORATE

CONTINUED.

THE LIFE OF JOHN MILTON,

WITH THE

HISTORY OF HIS TIME.

CHAPTER I.

OLIVER'S FIRST PROTECTORATE CONTINUED: SEPT. 3, 1654-JUNE 26, 1657.

Oliver's First Protectorate extended over three years and six months in all, or from December 16, 1653 to June 26,
1657. The first nine months of it, as far as to September 1654, have been already sketched; and what remains divides
itself very distinctly into three Sections, as follows:—

Section I:—From Sept. 3, 1654 to Jan. 22, 1654-5. This Section, comprehending four months and a half, may be
entitled OLIVER AND HIS FIRST PARLIAMENT.

Section II:—From Jan. 22, 1654-5 to Sept. 17, 1656. This Section, comprehending twenty months, may be entitled
BETWEEN THE PARLIAMENTS, OR THE TIME OF ARBITRARINESS.

Section III:—From Sept. 17, 1656 to June 26, 1657. This Section, comprehending nine months, may be entitled
OLIVER AND THE FIRST SESSION OF HIS SECOND PARLIAMENT.

We map out the present chapter accordingly.

SECTION I.

OLIVER AND HIS FIRST PARLIAMENT: SEPT, 3, 1654-JAN. 22, 1654-5.

MEETING OF THE FIRST PARLIAMENT OF THE PROTECTORATE: ITS
COMPOSITION: ANTI-

OLIVERIANS NUMEROUS IN IT: THEIR FOUR DAYS'
DEBATE IN CHALLENGE OF CROMWELL'S

POWERS: DEBATE STOPPED BY
CROMWELL: HIS SPEECH IN THE PAINTED CHAMBER: SECESSION

OF SOME FROM THE PARLIAMENT: ACQUIESCENCE OF THE REST BY ADOPTION OF
THE

RECOGNITION: SPIRIT AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE PARLIAMENT
STILL MAINLY ANTI-OLIVERIAN:

THEIR FOUR MONTHS' WORK IN REVISION
OF THE PROTECTORAL CONSTITUTION: CHIEF

DEBATES IN THOSE FOUR
MONTHS: QUESTION OF THE PROTECTOR'S NEGATIVES: OTHER

INCIDENTAL WORK OF THE PARLIAMENT: QUESTION OF RELIGIOUS TOLERATION AND OF
THE

SUPPRESSION OF HERESIES AND BLASPHEMIES: COMMITTEE AND
SUB-COMMITTEE ON THIS

SUBJECT: BAXTER'S PARTICIPATION: TENDENCY
TO A LIMITED TOLERATION ONLY, AND VOTE

AGAINST THE PROTECTOR'S
PREROGATIVE OF MORE: CASE OF JOHN RIDDLE, THE
SOCINIAN.—

INSUFFICIENCY NOW OF OUR FORMER SYNOPSIS OF
ENGLISH SECTS AND HERESIES: NEW

SECTS
AND
DENOMINATIONS:
THE
FIFTH-MONARCHY
MEN:
THE
RANTERS:
THE

MUGGLETONIANS AND OTHER
STRAY FANATICS: BOEHMENISTS AND OTHER MYSTICS: THE

QUAKERS OR FRIENDS: ACCOUNT OF GEORGE FOX, AND SKETCH OF THE HISTORY OF THE
QUAKERS TO THE YEAR 1654.—POLICY OF THE PARLIAMENT WITH
THEIR BILL FOR A NEW

CONSTITUTION: PARLIAMENT OUTWITTED BY CROMWELL AND DISSOLVED: NO RESULT.

Before the 3rd of September, 1654, the day fixed by the Constitutional Instrument for the meeting of the First
Parliament of the Protectorate, the 460 newly elected members, or the major part of them, had flocked to Westminster.
They were a gathering of the most representative men of all the three nations that could be regarded as in any sense
adherents of the Commonwealth. All the Council of State, except the Earl of Mulgrave and Lord Lisle, had been

returned, some of them by two or three different constituencies. Secretary Thurloe had been returned; Cromwell's two
sons, Richard and Henry, had been returned, Henry as member for Cambridge University; several gentlemen holding
posts in his Highness's household had been returned. Of the old English peers, there had been returned the Earl of
Salisbury, the Earl of Stamford, and Lord Dacres; and of the titular nobility there were Lord Herbert, Lord Eure, Lord
Grey of Groby, and the great Fairfax. Among men of Parliamentary fame already were ex-Speaker Lenthall,
Whitlocke, Sir Walter Earle, Dennis Bond, Sir Henry Vane Senior, Sir Arthur Hasilrig, Thomas Scott, William Ashurst,
Sir James Harrington, John Carew, Robert Wallop, and Sir Thomas Widdrington; and of Army or Navy men, of former
Parliamentary experience or not, there were Colonels Whalley, Robert Lilburne, Barkstead, Harvey, Stapley, Purefoy,
Admiral Blake, and ex-Major-General Harrison. Some of these had been returned by two constituencies. Bradshaw
was a member, with two of the Judges, Hale and Thorpe, and ex-Judge Glynne. Lawyers besides were not wanting;
and Dr. Owen, though a divine, represented Oxford University. One missed chiefly, among old names, those of Sir
Henry Vane Junior, Henry Marten, Selden, Algernon Sidney, and Ludlow; but there were many new faces. Among the
thirty members sent from Scotland were the Earl of Linlithgow, Sir Alexander Wedderburn, Colonel William Lockhart,
the Laird of Swinton, and the English Colonels Okey and Read. Ireland had also returned military Englishmen in Major-
General Hardress Waller, Colonels Hewson, Sadler, Axtell, Venables, and Jephson, with Lord Broghill, Sir Charles
Coote, Sir John Temple, Sir Robert King, and others, describable as Irish or Anglo-Irish.1

1: Complete list gives in Parl. Hist, III. 1428-1433.

The 3rd of September, selected as Cromwell's "Fortunate Day," chancing to be a Sunday, the Parliament had only a
brief meeting with him that day, in the Painted Chamber, after service in the Abbey, and his opening speech was
deferred till next day, On Monday, accordingly, it was duly given, but not till after another sermon in the Abbey,
preached by Thomas Goodwin, in which Cromwell found much that he liked. It was a political sermon, on "Israel's
bringing-out of Egypt, through a Wilderness, by many signs and wonders, towards a Place of Rest,"—Egypt interpreted
as old Prelacy and the Stuart role in England, the Wilderness as all the intermediate course of the English Revolution,
and the Place of Rest as the Protectorate or what it might lead to. Goodwill seems to have described with special
reprobation that latest part of the Wilderness in which the cry had arisen for sheer Levelling in the State and sheer
Voluntaryism in the Church; and Cromwell, starting in that key himself, addressed the Parliament, with noble
earnestness, in what would now be called a highly "conservative" speech. Glancing back to the Barebones Parliament
and beyond, he sketched, the proceedings of himself and the Council and the great successes of the Commonwealth
during the intervening eight months and a half, and hopefully committed to the Parliament the further charge of Order
and Settlement throughout the three nations, Then he withdrew. That same day they chose Lenthall for their Speaker,
and Scobell for their Clerk.1

1: Cromwell's Second Speech (Carlyle, III. 16-37); Commons Journals of dates.

Cromwell's hopes were blasted. The political division of the population of the British Islands was now into
OLIVERIANS, REPUBLICAN IRRECONCILABLES, PRESBYTERIANS, and STUARTISTS, the
two last

denominations hardly separable by any clear line, Now, in this new Parliament, though there were many staunch
Oliverians, and no avowed Stuartists, the Republican Irreconcilables and the Presbyterians together formed a majority.
They needed only to coalesce, and the Parliament called by Oliver's own writs would be an Anti-Oliverian Parliament.
And this is what happened.

No sooner was the House constituted, with about 320 members present out of the total 460, than it proposed for its
first business what was called "The Matter of the Government"; by which was meant a review of that document of forty-
two Articles, called the Government of the Commonwealth, which was the constitutional basis of the Protectorate.
On Thursday, Sept. 7, accordingly, they addressed themselves to the vital question of the whole document as
propounded in the first of the Articles. "Whether the House shall approve that the Government shall be in one Single
Person and a Parliament": such was the debate that day in Grand Committee, after a division on the previous question
whether they should go into Committee. On this previous question 136 had voted No, with Sir Charles Wolseley and
Mr. Strickland (two of the Council of State) for their tellers, but 141 had voted Yea, with Bradshaw and Colonel Birch
for their tellers. In other words, it had been carried by a majority of five that it fell within the province of the House to
determine whether the Single-Person element in the Government of the Commonwealth, already introduced somehow
as a matter of fact, should be continued. On this subject the House debated through the rest of that sitting, and the
whole of the next, and the next, and the next,—i.e. till Monday, Sept 11. Bradshaw, Hasilrig, and Scott took the lead
for the Republicans, not that they hoped to unseat Cromwell, but that they wanted to assert the paramount authority of
Parliament, and convert the existing Protectorship into a derivative from the House then sitting. Lawrence, Wolseley,
Strickland, and others of the Council of State, describable as the ministerial members, maintained the existing
constitution of the Protectorate, and pointed out the dangers that would arise from plucking up a good practical basis
for mere reasons of theory. Matthew Hale interposed at last with a middle motion, substantially embodying the
Republican view, but affirming the Protectorship at once, and reserving qualification. All in all, there was great
excitement, much confusion, and an outbreak from some members of very violent language about Cromwell.1

1: Commons Journals of dates: Parl. Hist. III. 1445; Godwin, IV. 116-125.

What might have been the issue had a vote come on can only be guessed. Things were not allowed to go that length.
On Tuesday, Sept, 12, the members, going to the House, found the doors locked, soldiers in and around Westminster

Hall, and a summons from the Lord Protector to meet him again in the Painted Chamber. Having assembled there, they
listened to Cromwell's "Third Speech." It is one of the most powerful of all his speeches. It began with a long review of
his life in general and the steps by which he had recently been brought to the Protectorship. It proceeded then to a
recitation of what he called "the witnesses" to his Government, or proofs of its validity—the Witness above, or God's
manifest Providence in leading him to where he was; the Witness within, or his own consciousness of integrity; and the
Witnesses without, or testimonies of confidence he had received from the Army, the Judges, the City of London, other
cities, counties and boroughs, and public bodies of all sorts. "I believe," he said, "that, if the learnedest men in this nation
were called to show a precedent, equally clear, of a Government so many ways approved of, they would not in all their
search, find it." Then, coming to the point, he asked what right the present Parliament had to come after all those
witnesses and challenge his authority. Had they not been elected under writs issued by him, in which writs it was
expressly inserted, by regulation of Article XII. of the Constitutional Instrument of the Protectorate, "That the persons
elected shall not have power to alter the Government as it is hereby settled in one Single Person and a Parliament"? On
this point he was very emphatic. "That your judgments, who are persons sent from all parts of the nation under the
notion of approving this Government—for you to disown or not to own it; for you to act with Parliamentary authority
especially in the disowning of it, contrary to the very fundamental things, yea against the very root of this Establishment;
to sit and not own the Authority by which you sit:—is that which I believe astonisheth more men than myself." A revision
of the Constitution of the Protectorate in circumstantials he would not object to, but the fundamentals must be left
untouched. And let those hearing him be under no mistake as to his own resolution. "The wilful throwing away of this
Government, such as it is, so owned of God, so approved by men, so witnessed to in the fundamentals of it as was
mentioned above, were a thing which,—and in reference not to my good, but to the good of these Nations and
Posterity,—I can sooner be willing to be rolled into my grave, and buried with infamy, than I can give my consent unto."
He had therefore called them now that they might come to an understanding. There was a written parchment in the
lobby of the Parliament House to which he requested the signatures of such as might see fit. The doors of the Parliament
House would then be open for all such, to proceed thenceforth as a free Parliament in all things, subject to the single
condition expressed in that parchment. "You have an absolute Legislative Power in all things that can possibly concern
the good and interest of the public; and I think you may make these Nations happy by this settlement." With so much
great work before them, with the three nations looking on in hope, with foreign nations looking on with wonder or
worse feelings, had they not a great responsibility?1

1: Carlyle's Cromwell, III. 37-61.

Bradshaw, Hasilrig, and others, would not sign the document offered them, which was a brief engagement "to be true
and faithful to the Lord Protector and the Commonwealth," and not to propose alteration of the Government as "settled
in a single Person and a Parliament." The Parliament, therefore, lost these leaders; but within an hour "The Recognition,"
as it came to be called, was signed by a hundred members, and the number was raised to 140 before the day was over,
and ultimately to about 300. And so, with this goodly number, the House went on. But the Anti-Oliverian leaven was
still strong in it. This appeared even in the immediate dealings of the House with the Recognition itself. They first (Sept,
14) declared that it should not be construed to comprehend the whole Constitutional Instrument of the Protectorate, but
only the main principle of the first Article; and then (Sept. 18) they converted the Recognition into a resolution of their
own, requiring all members to sign it, Next, in order to get rid of the stumbling-block of the First Article altogether, they
resolved (Sept. 19) that the Supreme Legislative authority was and did reside in "One Person and the People
assembled in Parliament," and also (Sept. 20) that Oliver Cromwell was and should he Lord Protector for life, and that
there should be Triennial Parliaments. Thus free to advance through the rest of the Forty-two Articles at their leisure,
they made that thenceforward almost their sole work. Through the rest of September, the whole of October, and part
of November, the business went on in Committee, with the result of a new and more detailed Constitution of the whole
Government in sixty Articles instead of the Forty-two. A Bill for enacting this Constitution, passed the first reading on
the 22nd of December, and the second on the 23rd; it then went back into Committee for amendments; and in January
1654-5 the House was debating these amendments and others.1

1: Commons Journals of dates given and of Nov. 7, and Godwin, IV, 130-132.

In the long course of the total debate perhaps the most interesting divisions had been one in Committee on October 16,
and one in the House on November 10. In the first the question was whether the Protectorship should be hereditary,
and it had been carried by 200 votes to 60 that it should not. This was not strictly an Anti-Oliverian demonstration; for,
though Lambert was the mover for a hereditary Protectorship in Cromwell's family, many of the undoubted Oliverians
voted in the majority, nor does there seem to be any proof that Lambert had acted by direct authority from Cromwell.
More distinctly an Anti-Oliverian vote had been that of Nov. 10, which was on a question of deep interest to Cromwell:
viz. the amount of his prerogative in the form of a negative on Bills trenching on fundamentals. In his last speech he had
himself indicated these "fundamentals," which ought to be safe against attack even by Parliament—one of them being
Liberty of Conscience, another the Control of the Militia as belonging to the Protector in conjunction with the
Parliament, and a third the provision, that every Parliament should sit but for a fixed period. In all other matters he was
content with a negative for twenty days only; but on bills trenching on these fundamentals he required a negative
absolutely. The question had come to the vote in a very subtle form. The motion of the Opposition was that Bills should
become Law without the Protector's consent after twenty days, "provided that such Bills contain nothing in them
contrary to such matters wherein the Parliament shall think fit to give a negative to the Lord Protector," while the
amendment of the Oliverians or Court-party altered the wording into "wherein the Single Person and the Parliament

shall declare a negative to be in the Single Person," thus giving Cromwell himself, and not the Parliament only, a right of
deciding where a negative should lie. On this question the Oliverians were beaten by 109 votes to 85, and the decision
would probably have caused a rupture had not the Opposition conceded a good deal when they went on to settle the
matters wherein Parliament would grant the Protector a negative.1

1: Journals of dates and Godwin, IV. 134-139.

As we have said, almost the sole occupation of the Parliament was this revision of the flooring on which itself and the
Protectorate stood. They did, however, some little pieces of work besides. They undertook a revision of the
Ordinances that had been passed by the Protector and his Council, and also of the Acts of the Barebones Parliament;
and they proposed Bills of their own to supersede some of these,—especially a new Bill for the Ejection of Scandalous
Ministers, and a new Bill for Reform of the Court of Chancery. But of all the incidental work undertaken by this
Parliament none seems to have been undertaken with so much gusto as that which consisted in efforts for the
suppression of Heresy and Blasphemy. Here was the natural outcome of the Presbyterianism with which the Parliament
was charged, and here also the Parliament was very vexatious to the soul of the Lord-Protector.

After all, this portion of the work of the Parliament can hardly be called incidental. It was part and parcel of their main
work of revising the Constitution, and it was inter-wrought with the question of Cromwell's negatives. Article XXXVII.
of the original Instrument of the Protectorate had guaranteed liberty of worship and of preaching outside the Established
Church to "such as profess faith in Jesus Christ," and Cromwell, in his last speech, had noted this as one of the
"fundamentals" he was bound to preserve. How did the Parliament meet the difficulty? Very ingeniously. They said that
the phrase "such as profess faith in Jesus Christ" was a vague phrase, requiring definition; and, the whole House having
fo...